Murder in Jerusalem Read Online Free PDF Page A

hasn’t come into any inheritance. And anyway, look,” she said as she fast-forwarded the tape and stopped at a frame showing Rabbi Elharizi in priestly garb again. “He’s moving money to Canada for something big—big and illegal—look at this getup, that means something, doesn’t it? I’m telling you, it’s something big and illegal. That much I’m sure of.”
    â€œHow can you be sure?”
    â€œRubin,” Natasha said with a laugh, “you yourself taught me: I do not divulge my sources, I’ve got my source and I’m sure not giving it out. But I need you to help me. I need you to persuade him to give me a crew, I want to get to the bottom of this thing.”
    â€œPersuade who? Hefetz?” Rubin asked, surprised. “You want me to persuade Hefetz? Who could possibly persuade him better than you? You certainly don’t need any help when it comes to Hefetz. You know that nobody has more influence over him than you do.”
    â€œListen, Rubin,” Natasha said, her lips trembling as if she were about to burst into tears, “you’re wrong. And as one who…never mind, you’re totally wrong. That’s insulting. I don’t have any influence over him, you’re talking stereotypically.”
    â€œAh,” Rubin said with a wan smile. “Stereotypically? I get it…”
    â€œDon’t patronize me, Rubin,” Natasha said, pulling on the sleeves of the oversized sweater she was wearing. “You’re thinking in terms of stereotypes, like in American movies or something, but it doesn’t work that way in real life. On the contrary…”
    â€œEnlighten me,” Rubin said, folding his arms across his chest and pushing his chair back. “Explain how it works in real life.”
    â€œAll right. I know you have experience, I know that you yourself have already…never mind,” she said, slapping her thigh as if to close the subject. “I didn’t say that…never mind, Hefetz won’t ever help me, he won’t help me—”
    â€œNatasha,” Rubin said, making an effort to sound fatherly and patient, “how can I possibly bypass the news chief to help you? Explain that to me. Especially when you and he—”
    â€œOn the contrary,” Natasha implored him. “It’s exactly the opposite of what you think: if a man like Hefetz sleeps with a woman, he doesn’t think she’s worth much anymore. He knows how to talk nice, I guess, but you’ll never catch him taking me seriously, treating me like my work has any value. I think that…in general, if a person of his rank screws around with a nobody, a new reporter, do you really think he’s going to promote her because of that?!”
    Rubin grimaced. “I don’t like…why are you talking like that? Why do you talk about yourself with such disdain? This isn’t a matter of getting it on the sly, it’s totally clear that you two have had something serious going for quite a while.”
    â€œIt’s not important what we have going,” Natasha said, cutting him off. “It doesn’t matter what Hefetz says, he can talk about love from morning to night. I’m telling you, if a married guy messes around with a girl half his age it’s called screwing, that’s all it is, and I don’t have any intention…in your case maybe it…but in any case, it’s over.”
    â€œAha. Over. Now it’s all clear to me,” Rubin said, raising his eyes to the ceiling.
    â€œWhat’s clear to you?” Natasha demanded to know, and with a trembling finger she pressed the button that slowly ejected the videotape. “Because it’s clear to me…that you don’t want…”
    â€œOh, come on, Natasha, don’t be so touchy, at least spare me that,” Rubin said, grabbing tightly the bony hand that held the tape.
    â€œSo do you